Notes / Commercial Description:
Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle & culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops, Bell's Hopslam Ale possesses the most complex hopping schedule in the Bell's repertoire. Selected specifically because of their aromatic qualities, these Pacific Northwest varieties contribute a pungent blend of grapefruit, stone fruit, and floral notes. A generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey provide just enough body to keep the balance in check, resulting in a remarkably drinkable rendition of the Double India Pale Ale style.

Smell: Floral hops and mango up front. Followed by pine hops, orange and peach.

Taste: All the flavors are combined perfectly. The pine and floral hops with the mango, orange and peach come out at the same time. It's amazing!

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, smooth with a mid-light dryness on the palate.

Overall: Clean with a crisp finish. Perfectly balanced with a medium body. Has a great sweetness to it from the honey. Woth every bit of $21.99 a six pack. The hops come through a lot more when it warms up. AWESOME! CHEERS!

Appearance: This is one beautiful beer! Crystal clear, orange coloring. Almost like the color of honey this beer is brewed with if it was clear. Has a small amount of head on toop and leaves some great lacing. If only all beers could look like this. A piece of art really.

Smell: Piney, and citrusy hops right up front. Perhaps it's because it says it on the bottle but I can also smell the honey leaving a pleasurable sticky feeling in the old nostrils.

Taste: Bam! This one is definitely hoppy! At least up front. The great thing about this though is it is very balanced. Someone that would say they don't normally like hoppy beers should at least pick up a single of Hopslam because it is great. The malt and honeys sweeten this beer up nicely leaving the finish to be more sticky sweet than bitter like you get with most hoppy beers. Of course with an ABV of 10% you'd expect it to be sweet. This beer is pretty complex too. Throughout the glass I got different tastes and flavors between being super bitter to being super sweet and everything in between.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and sticky! Up front this beer makes your mouth feel refreshed with the bitter hops cleaning (or stripping away) your palate and then it leaves you with the sticky sweet feeling.

Drinkability: Who cares about the 10% ABV?! I say the drinkability on Bell's Hopslam is way better than par. In other words, this is one you can sit and sip and enjoy all night long. At $18 for a six pack it might get a bit expensive but heck, You only get to do it once a year right?